Automated assembly and mounting of solar cells on space panels

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides methods of fabricating a multijunction solar cell panel in which one or more of the steps are performed using an automated process. In some embodiments, the automated process uses machine vision.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/170,269, filed on Jun. 1, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/171,506 filed Jun. 5, 2015, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/592,519, filed Jan. 8, 2015, and Ser. No. 14/719,111, filed May 21, 2015, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to the field of photovoltaic solar arrays, and more particularly to fabrication processes utilizing, for example, multijunction solar cells based on III-V semiconductor compounds fabricated into interconnected Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC) assemblies and mounted on a support or substrate using automated processes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Solar power from photovoltaic cells, also called solar cells, has been predominantly provided by silicon semiconductor technology. In the past several years, however, high-volume manufacturing of III-V compound semiconductor multijunction solar cells for space applications has accelerated the development of such technology not only for use in space but also for terrestrial solar power applications. Compared to silicon, III-V compound semiconductor multijunction devices have greater energy conversion efficiencies and generally more radiation resistance, although they tend to be more complex to manufacture. Typical commercial III-V compound semiconductor multijunction solar cells have energy efficiencies that exceed 27% under one sun, air mass 0 (AM0), illumination, whereas even the most efficient silicon technologies generally reach only about 18% efficiency under comparable conditions. Under high solar concentration (e.g., 500×), commercially available III-V compound semiconductor multijunction solar cells in terrestrial applications (at AM1.5 D) have energy efficiencies that exceed 37% The higher conversion efficiency of III-V compound semiconductor solar cells compared to silicon solar cells is in part based on the ability to achieve spectral splitting of the incident radiation through the use of a plurality of photovoltaic regions with different band gap energies, and accumulating the current from each of the regions.

In satellite and other space related applications, the size, mass and cost of a satellite power system are dependent on the power and energy conversion efficiency of the solar cells used. Putting it another way, the size of the payload and the availability of on-board services are proportional to the amount of power provided. Thus, as payloads become more sophisticated, the power-to-weight ratio of a solar cell becomes increasingly more important, and there is increasing interest in lighter weight, “thin film” type solar cells having both high efficiency and low mass.

Space applications frequently use high efficiency solar cells, including multijunction solar cells based on compound semiconductors. Typical III-V compound semiconductor solar cells are fabricated on a semiconductor wafer in vertical, multijunction structures. The individual solar cells or wafers are then disposed in horizontal arrays, with the individual solar cells connected together in an electrical series and/or parallel circuit. The shape and structure of an array, as well as the number of cells it contains, are determined in part by the desired output voltage and current.

Conventional space solar array panels at present are most often comprised of a relatively densely packed arrangement of large solar cells formed from group III-V compound semiconductor devices mounted on a rigid supporting panel and operating without lenses for optical concentration of sunlight. A conventional space solar array panel may include a support, space solar cells disposed on the support, interconnection components for connecting the solar cells, and bypass diodes also connected to the solar cells.

Solar panels are generally formed by combining a large number of solar cells in an array. Individual solar cells, frequently with a rectangular or generally square-shape and sometimes with cropped corners, are connected in series to form a string of solar cells, whereby the number of solar cells used in the string determines the output voltage. Solar cells or strings of solar cells can also be interconnected in parallel, so as to increase the output current. In the field of space applications, individual solar cells are provided with interconnects and cover glass so as to form so-called CICs (Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass) assemblies, which are then combined to form an array. Conventionally, these large solar cells have been mounted on a support and interconnected using a substantial amount of manual labor. For example, first individual CICs are produced with each interconnect individually welded to each cell, and each cover glass individually mounted. Then, these CICs are connected in series to form strings, generally in a substantially manual manner, including welding or soldering steps. Then, these strings are applied to a panel or substrate and interconnected, in a process that includes the application of adhesive, wiring, and other assembly steps.

Close packing of the large solar cells on the space solar array panel is challenging due to requirement for interconnection of the solar cells to form a series circuit and to implement and interconnect the bypass diodes. An additional challenge can sometimes reside in the need to interconnect a plurality of strings of series connected solar cells in parallel. All of this has traditionally been carried out in a manual and substantially labor-intensive manner.

There is a continuing need for improved methods of manufacturing and assembling photovoltaic solar arrays that can result in decreases in cost and/or increases in performance.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Objects of the Disclosure

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an automated process for producing solar cell panels for space applications.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an automated assembly tool for producing solar cell panels for space applications.

It is an object of the disclosure to provide a supply cassette including a plurality of solar cell assemblies connected in series that can be used in an automated process to form a solar array panel by automatically placing and adhering said solar cell assemblies to the support.

It is another object of the disclosure to provide a method for making a solar cell panel.

It is another object of the disclosure to provide for an assembly structure and method that facilitates automation of at least certain steps of the process for manufacture of solar cell assemblies or CICs and panels of interconnected CICs.

Some implementations of the present disclosure may incorporate or implement fewer of the aspects and features noted in the foregoing objects.

2. Features of the Disclosure

Briefly, and in general terms, the present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a solar cell panel in an automated process. For example, disclosed herein is a method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell array panel comprising one or more of the steps of: fabricating a wafer utilizing a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor; metallizing the backside of the wafer; lithographically patterning and depositing metal of the front side of the wafer; forming a mesa on the front side of the wafer by lithography and etching; depositing an antireflective coating (ARC) over the wafer; dicing one or more solar cells from the wafer; testing the functionality of the one or more solar cells; attaching interconnects to the one of more solar cells; attaching a cover glass to each solar cell to form a Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC); forming a string configuration of CICs; interconnecting string configurations of CICs; bonding string configurations or interconnected string configurations to a substrate; configuring and wiring a panel circuit; configuring a blocking diode; wiring a first terminal and a second terminal of first and second polarities, respectively, for the solar cell panel; and testing the functionality of the solar cell panel; wherein at least one of the method steps is performed using an automated process.

In certain embodiments, the solar cells are III-V compound semiconductor multijunction solar cells, and fabricating the wafer comprises: providing a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system configured to independently control the flow of source gases for gallium, indium aluminum, and arsenic; selecting a reaction time and temperature and a flow rate for each source gas to form the continuously-graded interlayer disposed on the bottom subcell, wherein the source gas for indium is trimethylindium (InMe₃), the sources gas for gallium in trimethylgallium (GaMe₃), the source gas for arsenic is arsine (AsH₃), and the source gas for aluminum is trimethylaluminum (Al₂Me₆).

In other certain embodiments, fabricating a wafer comprises: providing a first substrate; depositing on the first substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming at least first, second, and third solar cells; forming a grading interlayer on said first, second, and/or said third solar cell; depositing on said grading interlayer a second sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a fourth solar cell, the fourth solar cell lattice mismatched to the third solar cell; mounting and boding a surrogate substrate on top of the sequence of layers; and removing the first substrate, wherein forming the graded interlayer comprises: picking an interlayer composed of InGaAlAs; using a computer program to identify a set of compositions of the formula (In_(x)Ga_(1-x))_(y)Al_(1-y)As defined by specific values of x and y, wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1, each composition having a constant bandgap; identifying a lattice constant for one side of the graded interlayer that matches the middle subcell and a lattice constant for an opposing side of the interlayer that matches the bottom subcell; and identifying a subset of compositions of the formula (In_(x)Ga_(1-x))_(y)Al_(1-y)As having the constant bandgap that are defined by specific values of x and y, wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1, and wherein the subset of compositions have lattice constants ranging from the identified lattice constant that matches the adjacent subcell to the identified lattice constant that matches the bottom subcell.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell array on a carrier using one or more automated processes, the method comprising: providing a first multijunction solar cell including a first contact pad and a second contact pad disposed adjacent the top surface of the multijunction solar cell along a first peripheral edge thereof; attaching a first electrical interconnect to the first contact pad of said first multijunction solar cell; attaching a second electrical interconnect to the second contact pad of the first multijunction solar cell; positioning said first multijunction solar cell over an adhesive region of a permanent carrier using an automated machine/vision apparatus; mounting a cover glass over said first multijunction solar cell; and bonding said first multijunction solar cell to said adhesive region using pressure and/or heat.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, the support is a KAPTON® layer, that is, a polymide film layer. KAPTON® is a trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The chemical name for KAPTON® is poly (4,4′-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide). Other polymide film sheets or layers may also be used.

In some embodiments, the support has a thickness of between 25 and 100 microns, or between 1 mil (25.4 μm) and 4 mil (101.6 μm).

In some embodiments, the support has a thickness of between 10 and 25 microns.

In some embodiments, a metal layer is attached to the support layer in an adhesive-less manner, to limit outgassing when used in a space environment.

In some embodiments the support is mounted on a metallic honeycomb structure.

The substrate may be a rigid substrate, such as an aluminum honeycomb substrate with carbon composite face sheet, or it may be a flexible substrate, such as a polymide film.

In some embodiments, after making the bonding connection, at least two solar cell devices are automatically interconnected using a pick and place process for positioning the interconnectors, followed by automatic parallel gap welding.

In some embodiments, contact pads are established by an automatic metallic plating process.

In some embodiments the at least two solar cell devices are automatically electrically connected, for example wire bonded together, with the at least two solar cell devices having co-planar front-side electrical contacts.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a space vehicle and its method of fabrication comprising: a payload disposed on or within the space vehicle; and a power source for the payload, including an array of solar cell assemblies mounted on a panel, with at least one solar cell panel or solar cell assembly being of the type described herein.

Some implementations of the present disclosure may incorporate or implement fewer of the aspects and features noted in the foregoing summaries.

Additional aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure, including the following detailed description as well as by practice of the disclosure. While the disclosure is described below with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional applications, modifications and embodiments in other fields, which are within the scope of the disclosure as disclosed and claimed herein and with respect to which the disclosure could be of utility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the disclosure, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate embodiments of the disclosure, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the disclosure, but just as examples of how the disclosure can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a wafer with two solar cells being implemented;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of a wafer with a single solar cell being implemented;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a portion of a solar cell according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a multijunction solar cell through the 2B-2B plane of the solar cell of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell of FIG. 2A through the 2C-2C plane shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D is a top plan view of a portion of a solar cell with cropped corners and interconnect elements;

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of a portion of a solar cell with cropped corners of FIG. 2A more specifically depicting the interconnect elements;

FIG. 2F is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell of FIG. 2A through the 2C-2C plane shown in FIG. 2A after connection of an interconnect element;

FIG. 2G is a top plan view of the solar cell of FIG. 2A after attachment of a cover glass thereby forming a Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC);

FIG. 2H is a cross-sectional view of the Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC) of FIG. 2G through the 2H-2H plane shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2I is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the solar cell of FIG. 2A that has been interconnected to an adjacent solar cell using the interconnect element depicted in FIG. 2F;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representing a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a metallic honeycomb structure which can be used for mounting a support;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an aluminum honeycomb substrate with carbon composite face sheet; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an aluminum honeycomb substrate with carbon composite face sheet and a co-cured polyimide substrate.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Details of the present invention will now be described including exemplary aspects and embodiments thereof. Referring to the drawings and the following description, like reference numbers are used to identify like or functionally similar elements, and are intended to illustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a highly simplified diagrammatic manner. Moreover, the drawings are not intended to depict every feature of the actual embodiment nor the relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and are not drawn to scale.

A variety of different features of multijunction solar cells are disclosed in the related applications noted above. Some, many, or all of such features may be included in the structures and processes associated with the solar cells of the present disclosure. However, more particularly, the present disclosure is directed to several embodiments of the interconnect element.

More generally, however, the present disclosure may be adapted to multijunction solar cells as disclosed in related applications that may include three, four, five, or six subcells, with band gaps in the range of 1.8 to 2.2 eV (or higher) for the top subcell; 1.3 to 1.8 eV and 0.9 to 1.2 eV for the middle subcells; and 0.6 to 0.8 eV for the bottom subcell.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and methods to automate many of the processes and material handling steps associated with the fabrication and assembly of a covered-interconnect-cell or “CIC” using multijunction solar cells, and the mounting of such CICs on a solar panel or support. More specifically, the present disclosure intends to provide a relatively simple and reproducible technique that is suitable for use in a high volume production environment in which various semiconductor layers are deposited in an MOCVD reactor, and subsequent processing steps are defined and selected to minimize any physical damage to solar cell and the quality of the semiconductor devices, thereby ensuring a relatively high yield of operable solar cells meeting specifications at the conclusion of the fabrication processes.

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a wafer with two solar cells (cell 1 and cell 2) being implemented.

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of a wafer with a single solar cell (cell 3) being implemented.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a portion of a solar cell 900 according to the present disclosure depicting metal grid layers 940 and metal contact pad 952 adjacent peripheral edge regions 950 and 951 of solar cell 900.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a multijunction solar cell through the 2B-2B plane of the solar cell of FIG. 2A which may be used as an example in which the processes as provided by the present disclosure may be implemented. In FIG. 2B, each dashed line indicates the active region junction between a base layer and emitter layer of a subcell.

As shown in the illustrated example of FIG. 2B, the bottom subcell 901 includes a substrate 912 formed of p-type germanium (“Ge”) which also serves as a base layer. A contact pad 911 can be formed on the bottom of base layer 912 to provide electrical contact to the multijunction solar cell 303. The bottom subcell 901 further includes, for example, a highly doped n-type Ge emitter layer 914, and an n-type indium gallium arsenide (“InGaAs”) nucleation layer 916. The nucleation layer is deposited over the base layer 912, and the emitter layer is formed in the substrate by diffusion of deposits into the Ge substrate, thereby forming the n-type Ge layer 914. Heavily doped p-type aluminum gallium arsenide (“AlGaAs”) and heavily doped n-type gallium arsenide (“GaAs”) tunneling junction layers 918, 917 may be deposited over the nucleation layer 916 to provide a low resistance pathway between the bottom and middle subcells.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 2B, the middle subcell 902 includes a highly doped p-type aluminum gallium arsenide (“AlGaAs”) back surface field (“BSF”) layer 920, a p-type InGaAs base layer 922, a highly doped n-type indium gallium phosphide (“InGaP₂”) emitter layer 924 and a highly doped n-type indium aluminum phosphide (“AlInP₂”) window layer 926. The InGaAs base layer 922 of the middle subcell 902 can include, for example, approximately 1.5% In. Other compositions may be used as well. The base layer 922 is formed over the BSF layer 920 after the BSF layer is deposited over the tunneling junction layers 918 of the bottom subcell 901.

The BSF layer 920 is provided to reduce the recombination loss in the middle subcell 902. The BSF layer 920 drives minority carriers from a highly doped region near the back surface to minimize the effect of recombination loss. Thus, the BSF layer 920 reduces recombination loss at the backside of the solar cell and thereby reduces recombination at the base layer/BSF layer interface. The window layer 926 is deposited on the emitter layer 924 of the middle subcell 902. The window layer 926 in the middle subcell 902 also helps reduce the recombination loss and improves passivation of the cell surface of the underlying junctions. Before depositing the layers of the top cell 903, heavily doped n-type InGaP and p-type AlGaAs tunneling junction layers 927, 928 may be deposited over the middle subcell 902.

In the illustrated example, the top subcell 909 includes a highly doped p-type indium gallium aluminum phosphide (“InGaAlP”) BSF layer 930, a p-type InGaP₂ base layer 932, a highly doped n-type InGaP₂ emitter layer 934 and a highly doped n-type InAlP₂ window layer 936. The base layer 932 of the top subcell 903 is deposited over the BSF layer 930 after the BSF layer 930 is formed over the tunneling junction layers 928 of the middle subcell 902. The window layer 936 is deposited over the emitter layer 934 of the top subcell after the emitter layer 934 is formed over the base layer 932. A cap or contact layer 938 may be deposited and patterned into separate contact regions over the window layer 936 of the top subcell 903. The cap or contact layer 938 serves as an electrical contact from the top subcell 903 to metal grid layer 940. The doped cap or contact layer 938 can be a semiconductor layer such as, for example, a GaAs or InGaAs layer.

After the cap or contact layer 938 is deposited, the grid lines 940 are formed. The grid lines 940 are deposited via evaporation and lithographically patterned and deposited over the cap or contact layer 938. The mask is subsequently lifted off to form the finished metal grid lines 940 as depicted in FIG. 2B, and the portion of the cap layer that has not been metallized is removed, exposing the surface of the window layer 936.

In some embodiments, a trench or channel 971 shown in FIG. 2C, or portion of the semiconductor structure, is also etched around each of the solar cells. These channels 971 define a peripheral boundary between the solar cell (later to be scribed from the wafer) and the rest of the wafer, and leaves a mesa structure (or a plurality of mesas, in the case of more than one solar cell per wafer) which define and constitute the solar cells later to be scribed and diced from the wafer.

As more fully described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0012175 A1 (Varghese et al.), hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, the grid lines 940 are preferably composed of Ti/Au/Ag/Au, although other suitable materials may be used as well.

During the formation of the metal contact layer 940 deposited over the p+ semiconductor contact layer 938, and during subsequent processing steps, the semiconductor body and its associated metal layers and bonded structures will go through various heating and cooling processes, which may put stress on the surface of the semiconductor body. Accordingly, it is desirable to closely match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the associated layers or structures to that of the semiconductor body, while still maintaining appropriate electrical conductivity and structural properties of the layers or structures. Thus, in some embodiments, the metal contact layer 940 is selected to have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) substantially similar to that of the adjacent semiconductor material. In relative terms, the CTE may be within a range of 0 to 15 ppm per degree Kelvin different from that of the adjacent semiconductor material. In the case of the specific semiconductor materials described above, in absolute terms, a suitable coefficient of thermal expansion of layer 940 would range from 5 to 7 ppm per degree Kelvin. A variety of metallic compositions and multilayer structures including the element molybdenum would satisfy such criteria. In some embodiments, the layer 940 would preferably include the sequence of metal layers Ti/Au/Mo/Ag/Au, Ti/Au/Mo/Ag, or Ti/Mo/Ag, where the thickness ratios of each layer in the sequence are adjusted to minimize the CTE mismatch to GaAs. Other suitable sequences and material compositions may be used in lieu of those disclosed above.

In some embodiments, the metal contact scheme chosen is one that has a planar interface with the semiconductor, after heat treatment to activate the ohmic contact. This is done so that (i) a dielectric layer separating the metal from the semiconductor doesn't have to be deposited and selectively etched in the metal contact areas; and (ii) the contact layer is specularly reflective over the wavelength range of interest.

The grid lines are used as a mask to etch down the surface to the window layer 936 using a citric acid/peroxide etching mixture.

An antireflective (ARC) dielectric coating layer 942 is applied over the entire surface of the “top” side of the wafer with the grid lines 940.

FIG. 2C is a highly simplified cross-sectional view of the solar cell of FIG. 2A similar to that of FIG. 2B, but in a view longitudinally along a grid line. The cross-sectional view of the solar cell of FIG. 2A is through the 2C-2C plane. A contact pad 952 electrically connected to the grid line metal 940 is depicted.

FIG. 2D is a top plan view of a portion of a solar cell 900 with cropped corners 991 and 992 near a peripheral edge 990 of solar cell 900. FIG. 2D also depicts interconnect elements 962 and 972, and metal grid layers 940.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of a portion of a solar cell 900 with cropped corners of FIG. 2A more specifically depicting the interconnect element 962 having members 315 and 316 connected to metal contact pad 952. FIG. 2E also depicts metal grid layers 940 of solar cell 900.

FIG. 2F depicts the attachment of an interconnection member 960 to the metal contact pad 952. The interconnection member 960 is a planar rectangular clip having a first flat end-portion 961 welded to the metal contact 952, a second portion 962 connected to the first end-portion 961 and extending above the surface of the solar cell, and a third portion 963 connected to the second portion 962 and being serpentine in shape, and flat second end-portion 964 extending below the bottom of the solar cell and designed and oriented so that its flat upper side surface may be welded to the bottom metal contact 911 of an adjacent solar cell 800 as shown in FIG. 2I.

FIG. 2G is a top plan view of the solar cell of FIG. 2A after attachment of a cover glass 981 to the top of solar cell 900, thereby forming a Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC). FIG. 2G also depicts interconnect elements 962 and 972.

FIG. 2H is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell of FIG. 2F after the next process step of attachment of a cover glass 981 to the top of the solar cell by an adhesive 980. The cover glass 981 is typically about 4 mils thick. Although the use of a cover glass is desirable for many environmental conditions and applications, it is not necessary for all implementations, and additional layers or structures may also be utilized for providing additional support or environmental protection to the solar cell.

FIG. 2I is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell of FIG. 2H, which is now designated as cell 300, after the next process step of alignment with the edge of an adjacent similar solar cell 800, in the process of fabricating an interconnected array or string of solar cells. The similar solar cell 800 includes layers 811, 812 through 836, 838, and 840 similar to layers 911, 912, through 936, 938, and 940 respectively of solar cell 300. A cover glass 881 is attached by adhesive 880 to the solar cell 800 similar to that in solar cell 300.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representing a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Certain embodiments of the invention can include one or more of the method steps of wafer fabrication (101), backside metallization (102), front side lithography and metal deposition (103), mesa lithography and etch (104), antireflective coating (ARC) deposition (105), cell dicing from the wafer (106), cell testing (107), attaching interconnects and configuring and attaching bypass diodes (108), attaching cover glass to form CIC (109), forming string configuration (110), forming string interconnection (111), CIC string bonding to substrate (112), panel circuit configuration and wiring (113), blocking diode configuration (114), terminal wiring (115), and functional testing (116).

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more of the above-recited method steps may be performed using an automated process. Exemplary automated processes for some of the steps are further discussed herein below. However, the present disclosure is intended to include alternative automated processes that are known in the art for each method step. Further, the exemplary automated processes discussed herein to carry out one method step may be used to carry out other method steps not explicitly discussed herein. In some embodiments a plurality of recited method steps may be performed using one or more automated processes. In certain embodiments, all of the recited method steps may be performed using one or more automated processes.

In some embodiments, the automated process may use a robot (e.g., pick and place assembly tools) to perform a conventional manual process.

In some embodiments, a wire bonding laser welding machine can be used for attaching interconnects to one or more solar cells.

In some embodiments, the one or more automated processes may use machine vision. Machine vision can include imaging-based automatic inspection and analysis for applications such as automatic inspection, process control, and robot guidance. Although conventional (2D visible light) imaging is most commonly used in machine vision, alternatives include imaging various infrared bands, line scan imaging, 3D imaging of surfaces, and X-ray imaging. The most commonly used method for 3D imaging is scanning based triangulation which utilizes motion of the product or image during the imaging process. Other 3D methods used for machine vision are time of flight, grid based, and stereoscopic.

For machine vision, the imaging device (e.g. camera) can either be separate from the main image processing unit or combined with it in which case the combination can be a smart camera or a smart sensor. When separated, the connection may be made to specialized intermediate hardware such as a frame grabber using either a standardized or custom interface. Machine vision can also use digital cameras capable of direct connections (without a framegrabber) to a computer.

Although the vast majority of machine vision applications use two-dimensional imaging, machine vision applications utilizing 3D imaging are a growing alternative. One method is grid array based systems using pseudorandom structured light system. Another method of generating a 3D image is to use laser triangulation, where a laser is projected onto the surfaces of an object and the deviation of the line is used to calculate the shape. In machine vision this is accomplished with a scanning motion, either by moving the workpiece, or by moving the camera and laser imaging system. Stereoscopic vision can be used in special cases involving unique features present in both views of a pair of cameras.

Solar cell wafers can be prepared by automated methods of depositing III-V compound semiconductor layers and other layers (e.g., antireflective coating. ARC) on a substrate to fabricate a wafer. Such methods that are readily amenable to automation include, for example, metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) methods that are readily known in the art. Backside metallization of a cell can be performed, for example, by evaporation or electrodeposition on a polyimide layer (e.g., a KAPTON® layer).

Features such as grid lines and mesas can be formed on the front sides of the wafers using conventional techniques such as lithography, metal deposition, and etching techniques, all of which are readily amenable to automation using, for example, machine vision.

Solar cell configurations particularly suitable for assembly using automated processes include those that are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/592,519, filed Jan. 8, 2015; Ser. No. 14/719,911, filed May 21, 2015; Ser. No. 14/729,412, filed Jun. 3, 2015; and Ser. No. 14/729,422, filed Jun. 3, 2015, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

One or more solar cells can be formed from a wafer using conventional techniques such as dicing or scribing. The size and shape of the solar cells can be varied as desired for particular applications as disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/592,519, filed Jan. 8, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Dicing or scribing of solar cells from a wafer is particularly amenable to automation using machine vision.

The functionality of the one or more solar cells can be tested by conventional automated testing equipment.

Interconnects can be attached to the one of more solar cells using, for example, automatic soldering or laser welding equipment.

In some embodiments, one end of the interconnects can have parallel gap apertures, and the interconnects can be connected, for example, by applying a parallel gap welding tool.

In some embodiments, all electrical components in the solar cell array can be continuously encapsulated with CV grade silicone, which can be used to mount multi-cell large area coverglass, or as a surface for applying advanced coatings such as Cover Glass Replacement (CGR) or radiation resistant coatings. This approach can produce an array that is electrically isolated, can mitigate high voltage arcing problems, can eliminate cracks and seams to minimize the need for expensive inter-cell grouting, and can enable electrostatic cleanliness.

Dispensing of silicone onto solar cells and coverglass has typically been performed using a patterned silk screening process or squeegee approaches. These processes require additional materials and process associated with designing and producing templates, as well as the wasteful nature of hand mixing and application. These processes are inherently wasteful and laborious, driving high cost and low process throughput. The approach described herein provides for the simple low cost and high precision application of silicone adhesive to solar cell assemblies with standardized carriers.

In some embodiments, a silicone can be dispensed on the solar cell using, for example, an automated Asymtek machine with visual recognition for maximum precision.

A cover glass can be attached to each solar cell to form a Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC) using automated methods. For example, in some embodiments the CIC assembly process can be completed with the implementation of automated assembly and lamination. After large area or precision dispensing operations have been performed, a temporary carrier can be fixtured in a component placement machine. Using computerized visual recognition of fiducial location points, a numerically controlled component placement machine can pick the large area solar cell coverglass from a cartridge stack, placing this upon the uncured silicone dispensed in the previous step, which can then be cured to form the CIC.

In some embodiments, a similar component placement step can be implemented to both load a wire-bonding machine, as well as to perform the final submodule placement onto any suitable number of solar array substrates such as a flexible membrane or a rigid composite sandwich panel. Such automated methods can reduce or eliminate labor intensive hand operations from the entire process.

CICs can be positioned and placed on a support in an automated manner, for example, by a pick and place assembly tool to form a string configuration of CICs as described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/719,911, filed May 21, 2015, and Ser. No. 14/729,412, filed Jun. 3, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Bypass and blocking diodes can be configured by similar methods.

Solar cell in a string can be interconnected using, for example, standard automation equipment for wire bonding such as an automated thermosonic wire-bonding machine, and also as disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/719,911, filed May 21, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

String configurations or interconnected string configurations of solar cells positioned and placed on a support in an automated manner, for example, by a pick and place assembly tool as described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/719,911, filed May 21, 2015, and Ser. No. 14/729,412, filed Jun. 3, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In certain embodiments, the string configurations or interconnected string configurations of solar cells can be bonded to the substrate by the automatic application of pressure and/or heat and interconnected in a similar manner as discussed herein above.

Configuring and wiring a panel circuit and terminal can be performed using conventional automated wiring equipment.

Testing the functionality of the solar cell panel can be performed by automated methods similar to those discussed herein above for testing of individual solar cells. For example, 5-cell submodules have been fabricated using the processes described herein. Testing on the submodules performed included electrical continuity, grounding, and isolation testing. The submodules were subjected them to thermal cycling from −120° C. to +120° C. to represent typical LEO orbital conditions; from −180° C. to +80° C. to represent typical GEO orbital conditions; and in a related program, to plasma environments at high voltage, as an initial qualification to Low Earth Orbit environments. All tests showed good performance and reliability for the solar cell strings before and after exposure to these environments.

An engineering economic analysis of the benefits of the automated bonding and assembly processes was performed to quantify the benefits to lowering the cost of solar cell strings sub-modular building blocks. The data in Table 1 demonstrates substantial array integration cost reduction. The results, summarized in Table 1, are on a comparative basis only and do not necessarily represent a particular absolute price for a photovoltaic array or panel in a particular quantity. Labor estimates were made based on fully burdened labor rates including a postulated overhead, but do not account for potential alternative manufacturing cell and team structures. Labor rates also do not account for the lower skill level labor that could be implemented with automated assembly equipment compared to the higher level of skill that is often required for manual fixtured or semi-automated assembly.

TABLE 1 Cost Projections for Automated vs. Traditional Approach Material & Process Cost Traditional Integration THINS Automated Integration Material $/Watt Material $/Watt Cell 250.00 Cell 250.00 Interconnect Foil 20.73 Gold Wire 0.48 Individual Coverglass 5.12 Large Area Coverglass 6.11 Adhesive 3.70 Adhesive 1.55 Diode 12.50 Diode 12.50 Wire 1.00 Terminal Strip 12.72 Consumables, Templates, 3.00 Flex Harness 1.96 Etc. Total Materials 296.05 Total Materials 285.32 Integration Process $/Watt Integration Process $/Watt Skilled Technician   25% Skilled Technician   0% Premium Premium Weld Interconnect to 6 Pick & Place Cell, Diode, 4 Cell Terminal Strips Weld Interconnect Cell 6 Automated Wire Bond 3 to Cell Interconnect Individual Silicone 7 Automated Encapsulation 4 Individual Cover Glass 8 Apply Cover Glass or CGR 3 Mask and Dispense 12 Automated Dispense 3 Silicone Silicone Transfer Tool 5 Automated Pick and Place 3 Sub-module Tiling Sheet 5 Vacuum Bag Press Cure 3 Laydown 8 Cleanup (precision dispense 0 Bag and Cure 8 net process Cleanup 18 Panel Wiring 12 Automated Solder 5 Placement Solder 5 Solder Oven Re-flow 3 Grouting 25 Grouting (multi-cell glass 10 needs less) Documentation and 35 Documentation and 15 Inspection Inspection Total Labor $/Watt 160 Total Labor $/Watt 56 Yield 85.0% Yield 97.5% Integrated Cost $/Watt 537 Integrated Cost $/Watt 350 *costs are relative, burdened at an assumed overhead rate, and do not account for production quantities, and the potentially lower skill level needed for automated equipment operation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a metallic honeycomb structure 200 which can be used for mounting a support.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an aluminum honeycomb substrate 200 with carbon composite face sheet 201 attached thereto. In some embodiments, a double sided adhesive film can be positioned on the top surface of the face sheet, and the bottom surface of the adhesive film can be bonded to the top surface of the face sheet by, for example, co-curing. In some embodiments, a plurality of layers of carbon composite sheets can be embedded in a matrix of cyanate ester adhesive. The polyimide can then be put on top and the whole stack co-cured.

In some embodiments, a sequence of solar cell assemblies can be positioned over the top surface of the adhesive film, and each of the sequence of solar cell assemblies can be sequentially bonded to a predefined region on the top surface of the adhesive film, for example, by automatic application of pressure and/or heat. In some embodiments, the predefined region contains a pressure sensitive adhesive, and no adhesive is present on other regions of the top surface of the face sheet.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an aluminum honeycomb substrate 200 with carbon composite face sheet 201 attached to aluminum honeycomb substrate 200, and co-cured polyimide substrate 202 attached to carbon composite face sheet 201.

It is to be noted that the terms “front”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “over”, “on”, “under”, and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the disclosure described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that boundaries between the above described operations are merely illustrative. The multiple units/operations may be combined into a single unit/operation, a single unit/operation may be distributed in additional units/operations, and units/operations may be operated at least partially overlapping in time. Moreover, alternative embodiments may include multiple instances of a particular unit/operation, and the order of operations may be altered in various other embodiments.

In the claims, the word ‘comprising’ or ‘having’ does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in a claims. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. Also, the use of introductory phrases such as “at least one” and “one or more” in the claims should not be construed to imply that the introduction of another claim element by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim element to disclosures containing only one such element, even when the claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an”. The same holds true for the use of definite articles. Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

The present disclosure can be embodied in various ways. The above described orders of the steps for the methods are only intended to be illustrative, and the steps of the methods of the present disclosure are not limited to the above specifically described orders unless otherwise specifically stated. Note that the embodiments of the present disclosure can be freely combined with each other without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Although some specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been demonstrated in detail with examples, it should be understood by a person skilled in the art that the above examples are only intended to be illustrative but not to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the above embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure which are to be defined by the attached claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of fabricating a solar cell array panel comprising one or more of the steps of: providing a substrate; positioning and attaching a plurality of solar cells to the substrate; electrically connecting the plurality of solar cells in series to provide a solar cell string; positioning and attaching a blocking diode to the substrate and electrically connecting the blocking diode in series with the solar cell string and a bus bar on the substrate; wherein at least one of the method steps is performed using one or more automated processes; and wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses machine vision.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses a robot.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses a pick and place assembly tool; a wire bonding machine or a laser welding machine for attaching interconnects to one or more solar cells; automatic vapor deposition equipment; automatic metal plating equipment; automatic lithographic techniques; automatic etching techniques; automatic testing equipment; automatic soldering or laser welding equipment; automatic dispensing equipment; automated wiring equipment; and/or automatic application of pressure and/or heat.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising testing the functionality of the assembled solar cell panel.
 5. A method of fabricating a solar cell array panel comprising one or more of the steps of: providing a plurality of Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass units (CICs); forming a string configuration of CICs; interconnecting string configurations of CICs; bonding string configurations or interconnected string configurations to a substrate; and configuring a circuit of the string configurations on the substrate; wherein at least one of the method steps is performed using one or more automated processes; and wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses machine vision.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the panel is flexible and is composed of a poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide) material.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising attaching a blocking diode to the substrate.
 8. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing a first terminal and a second terminal of first and second polarities, respectively, connected to the circuit of string configurations on the solar cell panel.
 9. The method of claim 5 further comprising testing the functionality of the assembled solar cell panel.
 10. The method of claim 5 wherein providing a plurality of Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass units (CICs) comprises: providing a plurality of multijunction solar cells; attaching interconnects to each multijunction solar cell of the plurality of multijunction solar cells, wherein one of the interconnects is welded to a bottom metal contact layer of each multijunction solar cell of the plurality of multijunction solar cells of the plurality of multijunction solar cells; and attaching a cover glass to each multijunction solar cell of the plurality of multijunction solar cells to form a plurality of Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass units (CICs).
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising testing the functionality of each multijunction solar cell of the plurality of multijunction solar cells.
 12. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes use a robot.
 13. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes use one or more of a pick and place assembly tool; a wire bonding machine or a laser welding machine for attaching interconnects to one or more multijunction solar cells; automatic testing equipment; automatic soldering or laser welding equipment; automatic dispensing equipment; automated wiring equipment; and/or automatic application of pressure and/or heat.
 14. A method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell array on a carrier using one or more automated processes, the method comprising: providing a first multijunction solar cell including a first contact pad and a second contact pad disposed adjacent the top surface of the multijunction solar cell along a first peripheral edge thereof; welding a first electrical interconnect to the first contact pad of said first multijunction solar cell; welding a second electrical interconnect to the second contact pad of the first multijunction solar cell; positioning said first multijunction solar cell over an adhesive region of a permanent carrier; mounting a cover glass over said first multijunction solar cell; and bonding said first multijunction solar cell to said adhesive region using pressure and/or heat.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses machine vision.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses a robot.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the one or more automated processes uses a pick and place assembly tool; a wire bonding machine or a laser welding machine for attaching interconnects to one or more solar cells; automatic vapor deposition equipment; automatic metal plating equipment; automatic lithographic techniques; automatic etching techniques; automatic testing equipment; automatic soldering or laser welding equipment; automatic dispensing equipment; automated wiring equipment; and/or automatic application of pressure and/or heat.
 18. The method of claim 14 wherein the carrier is flexible and is composed of a poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide) material. 